Marine convicted of DUI crash that killed three of his fellow soldiers

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1778

December 10, 2014

DRUNKEN-DRIVER MARINE CONVICTED OF CAUSING CRASH THAT KILLED THREE FELLOW MARINES AFTER CRASHING INTO TREE

WESTMINSTER – A Marine was convicted today of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a crash that killed three fellow Marines after crashing into a tree. Jared Ray Hale, 27, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, with sentencing enhancements and allegations for driving with a blood alcohol level over .15 percent and causing great bodily injury. He faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison at his sentencing Jan. 30, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in Department W-13, West Justice Center, Westminster.

The defendant was originally charged with three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence with sentencing enhancements and allegations for driving with a blood alcohol level over .15 percent and causing great bodily injury. The California Court of Appeals, Fourth Appellate Division, District Three, ruled that the defendant cannot be charged with one felony count of manslaughter with sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury for the same subjects who have been named as victims in separate manslaughter counts and ordered the complaint to be amended. The defendant’s maximum sentence under the original counts would have been 10 years in state prison.

Facts and Circumstances of the Case
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2012, Hale arrived at Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point with three friends. The defendant and his friends were all Marines stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton. The friends included Christopher Arzola, 21, Mass., Jeremiah Callahan, 23, Neb., and Jason Chleborad, 22, S.D.

At approximately 1:50 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2012, the defendant drove away from the bar in his Dodge coup with his three friends as passengers.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. Hale drove northbound on Golden Lantern Street in Dana Point. As he approached a curve in the road at the intersection at Terra Vista, the defendant lost control of his vehicle, running over the landscaped center median, and crashing into a tree on the passenger’s side of the car. The car spun around the tree and came to rest against the tree on the median.

Victims Callahan and Arzola were pronounced dead at the scene due to multiple blunt force injuries. Victim Chleborad was transported to Mission Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 a.m. due to multiple blunt force injuries.

Hale was knocked unconscious in the crash and was transported to Mission Hospital, where he was treated for brain trauma and a fractured arm. Approximately an hour and a half after the crash, the defendant had a blood alcohol level of .16 percent.

Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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